S3E30: Recycling The Built Environment


E3 - Energy and Efficiency with Emily is all about building science, architecture, and female entrepreneurship: Season 3: As we move away from straight operational energy being the highlight of the building science world, I’m consumed by collecting knowledge about designing for deconstruction, recycling, first cost carbon, electrification, end of use, carbon storing, ventilation and health and many more important and demanding topics. To highlight some of that, I had the pleasure of talking with Erich Kruger of Deconstruction Works about deconstructing existing houses, what that means for our industry, education and diversity. This is an episode I’m particularly excited about, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy listening ~ Emily

Erich Kruger

Erich Kruger has been in the building trades since 1997 when he was teaching carpentry in Antigua, West Indies as part of the Peace Corp/Crisis Corps.  In Vermont he has worked for several general contractors and on his own.  In 2005 he founded the non-profit ReNew Building Materials & Salvage, and has consulted with, and later ran, the deconstruction program at Finger Lakes ReUse in  Ithaca, New York .   He holds a degree in Wildlife Management & Environmental Ethics (minor).

Erich is happiest when he is diverting building materials at a job-site in the company of other like-minded conscientious deconstructors, or on the wood floors of a local contra dance with his family.  He lives in a straw bale home he built with ecological features, including solar electric, solar hot water, composting toilet, and masonry wood heater/oven.

https://www.deconstructionworks.com/

Deconstruction Works specializes in the salvage and reuse (green demolition) of houses, outbuildings, and commercial interiors in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western Massachusetts. Contractors and homeowners often lament the waste of perfectly good materials heading to the Dumpster every day.  If you have a project large (whole house or commercial interior) or small (kitchens, baths, additions), why not let Deconstruction Works quote for the recycling and reuse of those building materials?

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https://www.facebook.com/deconstructionworksvt